DIANA’S POVMy eyes snap to the bookshelf. I walk to it, the sound of the ringing even louder. Just hidden in the middle of a pup’s storybook is the same cellphone.I look at Carden, and his eyes are as wide as the moon.“How did that get in here?”“There’s no use pretending anymore, so cut the act!” I snarl, irritated that he still dares to lie.His eyes darken. “I… I have no idea how that got in here.” He looks at Kael, blinking. “Believe me.”Kael’s expression shifts from betrayal to cold indifference, just like he always is when standing before his people, passing judgment. Despite it, I can still see the flicker of pain in his eyes.My heart stings so badly.“You still have a chance to come clean about your guilt, Omega Carden,” Kael says in a low, commanding tone.Carden still has the gall to look betrayed. He takes a step toward Kael.“I am your friend, Kael. I would never—”“If you move an inch closer to me, Carden, I will f*cking burst your brain out of your skull!” Kael eru
DIANA'S POV It’s coming from Carden’s room. My heart lurches to my throat as I take a careful step toward his slightly open door. Peeking through it, I see Carden standing close to the bed. Lying on the bed is a... cellphone. How does he have a cellphone? “Power, Carden. So much power and wealth you can ever think of.” I clamp a hand over my mouth before a gasp escapes. Eric. That… that’s his voice. The same wicked, hoarse voice. “I’m afraid that wouldn’t be enough,” Carden says, dropping onto the bed. His fists are clenched, veins bulging across his arms like he’s furious. “If I manage to get you in to kill Diana and take everyone here, I want you to bring Kael’s head before me.” I don’t realize I jerk backward until I hit something behind me. A torch falls to the ground, and Carden’s eyes snap toward me. I stumble back again, watching his eyes shift from grey to black. I need to go to Kael. I attempt to run, only to be tripped by a whip of wind. I crash to the groun
CARDEN'S POVI stare at the mating moon, my fists clenched at my sides.Right now, we are supposed to be preparing for the inevitable, yet he's in there, losing his mind over that female who put us in this mess in the first place.Every word I've told him has fallen on deaf ears. It's always been her before me—before anyone else.I've tried to let it go, but I can't. Every time I look at her, anger swirls within me.“Omega Carden!” Xiana calls, running toward me with a bright smile, raising a doll.I watch her approach, a smile twitching at my lips, but I stop it before it forms.She wraps her arms around my legs and throws her head back, looking up at me. “Aunty Vivian said Mummy and Daddy can’t read me to sleep tonight, so can I stay with you today?”“You know that’s not possible, Iana,” I say, hoping she’ll leave me and go away.“But why? Don’t you want me around you?” she whines, pulling away and wraps her arms around herself.I don’t respond. I simply slide my fingers into my poc
ERIC’S POV“You like what you see?” Hilton asks, sipping his champagne.“No,” I respond, knowing that's exactly what he wants to hear.“Good. I'm starting to think you're a good husband to my daughter.” He laughs so loudly, it rings in my ear despite the blaring club music.I chuckle, even though I’m disgusted as hell being in this place. My gaze shifts to the almost-naked women dancing on a pole while both men and women cheer, throwing money at them.I take a sip of my wine. Soon, all that money will be thrown my way. They’ll be too sick to waste it so carelessly.“Governor Antonio,” Hilton says, drawing my attention. He’s standing and shaking hands with Antonio Russo, a governor in Italy. Standing behind him are two huge men I assume are his bodyguards. Flanking him are two Irish-looking men holding briefcases.“And this is Eric Heart.”I stand and shake hands with him.“You must be the impotent son-in-law,” Antonio says, his face devoid of humor.I force a smile. “Impotent is a str
DIANA'S POV“We aren’t humans, love. Our hair grows faster,” Kael says as I watch him from the bathroom door.It’s six days left until what I’m guessing is the full mating moon. Kael said there’s a ceremony done on the sixth night. He said I’d enjoy it and that I should get prepared, but it seems like his little beard he said he’d shave off grew so much overnight.He looks so funny and I’m trying my best not to laugh.“You want to go out like this?” I ask. He looks at the mirror in confusion. “You don’t look like the meticulous Alpha I thought you were.”“It’s not that bad,” he says, arching his jaw. “A light brushing will surely do.”“Or… you could cut it off?”Kael looks at me like I said something ridiculous. “There’s barely enough time left.”“There is. You’re the Alpha, any judgment you make is right, remember?”“But you aren’t prepared yet. There would be no time for you to return to your room and get ready, so you’ll have to do it here.” I see the sly smirk creeping up his face
KAEL'S POVAs I throw punches at the tree before me, I twist my neck, glancing over at Carden, who's sitting on a fallen log.He immediately looks away. I sigh and continue punching the tree.I don't remember the last time we spoke properly except when I’m barking orders at him.I shake my head, dissolving the thoughts quickly. He had his hand wrapped around Diana's neck, fully knowing what she means to me. I don't care if he hates her, but I can't tolerate anyone causing her pain.Not. Not even him."You are still going to apologize," Jayden rolls his eyes.I throw faster punches, the wood bruising my flesh. "No, I'm not.""I give you five minutes before your conscience pricks you."Even if I were to speak to him, I'm not going to be the one who apologizes.When I decide my knuckles are bruised enough—and Jayden has managed to get on my nerves—I walk over to Carden, who's about to open a can of water. I snatch it from his hand and crash beside him.He looks at me, scowling, while I p